Share This Story!

North Korea executions under Kim Jong Un

North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly executed as many as 70 people since taking power in December 2011. That's about seven times as many as his father during the first years of his reign.

North Korea executions under Kim Jong Un

North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has executed more than 340 people since taking power in 2011, according to a South Korean think tank. He's also believed to have ordered the death of his half-brother Kim Jong Nam on Feb. 13. Most executions were carried out as Kim consolidated power, but others were personal vendettas. Many names and details remain unknown and some are unconfirmed. Here are some of the executions Kim has ordered, according to various news sources:

2017

Five senior officials | State Security Department

Why: Issued 'false' reports

Date: Feb. 26, 2017

Method: Anti-aircraft guns

Kim Jong Nam | Half-brother of Kim Jong Un

Why: Perceived as threat to Kim

Date: Feb. 13, 2017

Method: Assassinated with chemical nerve agent

2016

Ri Yong Jin | Education ministry official

Why: Showed disrespect to Kim

Date: August 2016

Method: Anti-aircraft gun

Hwang Min | Agricultural official

Why: Challenged Kim's leadership

Date: August 2016

Method: Anti-aircraft gun

Kim Yong Jin | Vice premier of education

Why: Showed disrespect to Kim

Date: July 2016

Method: Firing squad

Gen. Ri Yong-Gil | Army chief of staff

Why: Corruption

Date: February 2016/Unconfirmed

Method: Firing squad

2015

Choe Yong-san | Vice premier

Why: Did not agree with Kim's forestation policy

Date: May 2015

Method: Shot

Unnamed official | Manager of turtle farm

Why: During Kim's visit to the farm, the official attempted to explain why turtles had died, including power failures and lack of water and food. The official was executed " to set an example."

Date: May 2015

Method: Shot

Hyon Yong-chol | Defense minister

Why: "Showed disloyalty to the leader"

Date: April 2015

Method: Anti-aircraft gun

Four unnamed musicians | North Korea's Unhasu Orchestra

Why: Unknown; former colleagues of Kim's wife, Ri So-ju

Date: March 2015

Method: Unknown

Gen. Pyon In Son| Head of army operations

Why: Corruption, failure to follow orders

Date: February 2015

Method: Firing squad

2014

O Sang-hon | Deputy minister, public security

Why: Corruption

Date: December 2014

Method: Tied to stake, burned alive with flame thrower

Sim Chol-ho | Telecommunications minister

Offense: Unknown

Date: October 2014/Unconfirmed

Method: Unknown

Chang Ung | Sports official, member of International Olympic Committee

Why: Corruption

Date: August 2014/Unconfirmed

Method: Unknown

Gen. Ri Pyong-Chol | Commander of air force

Why: Unknown

Date: August 2014/Unconfirmed

Method: Unknown

Ma Won-chun | Architect

Why: Unknown

Date: August 2014/Uncomfirmed

Method: Unknown

Kim Kyong-hui | Widow of Jang Song Thaek; Kim's aunt

Why: Protesting husband's death

Date: May 2014

Method: Poison

2013

Jang Song Thaek | Kim's uncle by marriage

Why: Insurrection, other crimes

Date: December 2013

Method: Shot. An early report said he had been fed to a pack of dogs, but this has been proven false.